The high cost of traditional textbooks has been recognized as a likely roadblock to student success and is one of the reasons institutions are looking at the adoption of open education resources. But converting a course for OER can be a challenge for instructors. Lane Community College's OER Faculty Fellowship program offers both incentives and support for faculty adoption of OER. The college's ongoing OER adoption work of five years earned it a WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) award this fall.

At Davenport University, central IT is using social learning tools to tap the tech expertise of its own students, faculty and staff, cutting back on help desk requests and helping to create a culture of mutual support.

Sally M. Johnstone, a true pioneer in the use of technology in higher education, joined a 25-year retrospective session at the recent WCET annual conference in Colorado, with panelists particularly reflecting on changes online learning. Below, CT asked Johnstone to share some of her own perspectives.